Daley Center Flame Might Not Be Eternal

Veterans Object To Relocation

The "eternal" flame that has honored the nation's war dead in the Daley Center Plaza for nearly three decades may flicker out next year in favor of a new memorial in the South Loop.

The prospective change would come over the objections of veterans groups that contend the flame should be kept in its historic--and very visible--downtown location.

"Why should it be buried in the South Loop?" declared John Mahoney, past state commander of the American Legion and now administrative assistant in charge of the group's Chicago office. "The Daley Center is where the tourists go. Just like City Hall, it is a landmark."

Carl DiGrazia, state service officer for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, agreed that the flame should remain where it can be seen by the most people.

"There are a lot of people who go back and forth (past the memorial) every day," he said. "It is a tourist attraction. I am not sure it would have the same effect" at a new location.

At the center of the controversy is a new park backed by Mayor Richard Daley now being planned for a site on the west side of State Street between Harrison Street and Congress Parkway, just north of Jones Academic Magnet High School.

Though conceived as a "campus park," one of about 100 being built adjacent to public schools citywide, the open space will have a strong veterans theme, including a series of memorials that could include a new eternal flame, officials said.

At a meeting two weeks ago, the Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs, a panel appointed by the mayor, voted in favor of two flames.

The council believes "there are a lot of sentimental memories associated with the one at Daley Plaza," said Rochelle Crump, the city's head of veterans affairs. "There was opposition to a move, based on sentimental value and the fact that the American Legion sponsored some of its cost."

The memorial was built in 1972 during the tenure of the late Mayor Richard J. Daley on a small site on the south side of the plaza fronting Washington Street. It is enclosed by a small bronze fence.

On Wednesday, it was not visible, hidden by Christmas displays that are erected annually in the plaza during the holidays.

The American Legion would be willing to pay for construction of a new flame in the new park if the existing memorial is retained, Mahoney said.

"Why can't there be a flame at the Daley Center and the park? Hell, if it is a matter of (money) we would be more than happy to take care of the expense."

But Mahoney believes the decision already has been made to extinguish the memorial in the Loop.

At the city's official Veterans Day ceremony earlier this month--held at the Daley Center--Mahoney said that Daley told him the flame would be moved.

Daley did not offer an explanation, though Mahoney theorized the mayor believes retention of the flame downtown would perpetuate veterans ceremonies at the plaza instead of the new park.

No matter what the decision on the flame, Jones High School will make its facilities available for veterans events in case of inclement weather that renders the park unusable, according to Principal Cynthia Barron.

"Our local school council has passed a resolution saying we consider it our responsibility to open up our building," she said.

As for the park and its design, Barron said, "We want people to walk in there and say, `Wow, look at what we have in the United States as a result of all the people who participated in the wars.' We want it to be really powerful, where you have a sense of glory and patriotism."

But the open space also will be an extension of the school, Barron said. Tentative plans call for performance areas to accommodate small theater productions and use by Jones student environmental clubs.

The site, just across Congress Parkway from the Harold Washington Library, is being acquired by the city. Tentative plans call for completion of design and start of construction next year.